Among the unique dishes in Quang Nam, Mi Quang (Quang noodle) seems to be the famous dish that attracts visitors to this central province.
It
is highly recommended that visitors should not miss the chance to enjoy the
true taste of this signature dish in Phu Chiem, an area in Triem Nam Village,
Dien Phuong Commune in Dien Ban District that is claimed to be the birthplace
of the noodle.
Visiting
Hue or Hoi An is also the best chance to enjoy Quang noodle.
What
makes a bowl of Quang noodle in Phu Chiem special is the broth, which takes a
lot of effort to make.
First
of all, people boil peanuts and then ground them to extract milk, which is then
mixed with ground meat of paddy field crabs.
After
that, the mixture is cooked with shrimp that is roasted with salt and mixed
with peanut oil for a while.
The
broth is then added with thit ba roi (fat and lean meat) and cooked for 15 more
minutes.
The
noodles used for Mi Quang in Phu Chiem are cooked from the rice grown near the
Thu Bon River that flows through Quang Nam.
From
the early morning, visitors to Phu Chiem will see women preparing their stalls
to offer Quang noodle to gourmets. Some also bring the dish to nearby districts
in the province on their bamboo burdens.
A
bowl of Quang noodle in the land of Phu Chiem catches the eyes of diners for
its red-orange broth created from field crabs and shrimps.
Raw
vegetables served along with the dish all come from gardens of local noodle
sellers, making the dish an exquisite one (given the way its broth is made),
but still rustic and plain.
Through
generations, the delicious taste of Quang noodle of Phu Chiem is still well-preserved
with its fragrant broth while the noodles are not too tough or soft.
These
days, Quang noodle has stepped out of the central province and even gone
abroad. Its taste has also been changed to fit the eating habits of people in
different regions.
Therefore,
it would be a worthy experience to enjoy the dish right in its hometown. If you
are in Hoi An, you should try Mi Quang.
By SGT/VNN